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If you’re reading energy news of late, you might have come across three new ways that forces are aligning against local renewable energy. State governments are increasingly pre-empting local authority on a range of issues, including energy. Utility companies are undercutting state regulation with their legislative lobbyists. And utilities are also bringing their monopoly market power to bear in previously competitive markets.

We’ll detail examples of each of these three disturbing trends, and ways to fight back.

On Thursday, July 13th, John Farrell participated in a phone call with Anya Schoolman of the Community Power Network detailing the future of renewable energy under the new Trump administration. Farrell addressed the tools that communities have to take control of their energy future, regardless of whether the federal government is a clean energy friend or foe.

A new Bloomberg report has electric vehicles projected to become mainstream by 2040, we check in on the status of Michigan’s rooftop solar industry, and nationwide, U.S. mayors are rallying to commit to Paris Agreement standards.

Minnesota’s largest investor-owned utility, Xcel Energy, last month reported sparse participation in a program designed to deliver value to customers who charge their electric vehicles when it’s most convenient for the grid. But despite its benefits for the grid and cost savings for customers, the initiative appears stuck in neutral.

The combination of falling prices and rising interest put rooftop solar on a strong trajectory. But even as solar goes mainstream, it’s tough for consumers to tell which installer, which panels, and which financing is right for them.

Here at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, we advocate for independence in a variety of forms. From strengthening the status of independent businesses in the economy to encouraging local governments to break free from monopoly Internet Service Providers and invest in their communities’ connectivity, independence is vital for small-scale, local economies. That’s why, in honor of Independence Day 2017, we’ve gathered resources from across our work that you can delve into during this long weekend.

As an increasing number of cities across the U.S. pledge their commitment to purchase 100% of their power from renewable sources in the coming decades, some researchers questioned the feasibility of such energy policies.

We continue to monitor the status of Nevada’s net-metering legislation, a new report shows that the growth of variable, renewable energy resources has not harmed grid reliability, and Kansas City leads the U.S. in Electric Vehicle adoption, and a Massachusetts bill creates new opportunities for microgrids.